EL VY
Biography
In the grand tradition of musical partnerships that shouldn't work but absolutely do, EL VY emerged in 2015 as one of those delightful left-field collaborations that makes perfect sense once you hear it. The brainchild of The National's Matt Berninger and Ramona Falls' Brent Knopf, this Portland-based duo materialized seemingly out of nowhere with a sound that felt both familiar and refreshingly alien.
The genesis of EL VY reads like a modern indie rock fairy tale. Berninger, already established as one of alternative rock's most distinctive baritones through his work with The National, found himself creatively restless between album cycles. Enter Knopf, the multi-instrumentalist mastermind behind Ramona Falls and former member of Menomena, who had been crafting intricate, sample-heavy compositions in his Portland studio. When Knopf sent Berninger some instrumental tracks in 2013, something clicked immediately. The marriage of Knopf's kaleidoscopic production style with Berninger's world-weary wordplay proved irresistible.
What makes EL VY fascinating is how it allowed both artists to explore territories their main projects couldn't accommodate. While The National trades in carefully constructed melancholy, EL VY feels looser, more playful, almost mischievous. Knopf's production aesthetic – a dizzying blend of found sounds, vintage samples, and modern electronics – provided the perfect playground for Berninger's observational lyrics to roam free. The result is a sound that sits somewhere between Boards of Canada's nostalgic electronica and Pavement's slacker indie rock, filtered through a distinctly Pacific Northwest sensibility.
Their debut album, "Return to the Moon," released in November 2015, arrived with little fanfare but maximum impact. The record feels like a transmission from an alternate dimension where indie rock evolved differently, where drum machines and guitar loops dance together in perfect harmony. Lead single "Return to the Moon (Political Song for Dilla J to Sing)" – a title that perfectly encapsulates the duo's playful pretensions – became an instant cult classic, its hypnotic groove and stream-of-consciousness lyrics creating an earworm that burrows deep and stays there.
The album's genius lies in its contradictions. It's simultaneously intimate and expansive, lo-fi and polished, melancholic and euphoric. Tracks like "Need a Friend" showcase Berninger's ability to find profound loneliness in mundane suburban scenarios, while "Sad Case" transforms relationship anxiety into a disco-tinged meditation on modern disconnection. Throughout, Knopf's production work is revelatory, creating sonic landscapes that feel both nostalgic and futuristic.
Critically, "Return to the Moon" was embraced as a minor masterpiece, with publications from Pitchfork to Rolling Stone praising its innovative approach to indie rock production and Berninger's continued evolution as a lyricist. The album peaked at number 45 on the Billboard 200, impressive for such an experimental project, and spawned a devoted fanbase hungry for more material.
Live, EL VY proved equally compelling, with Berninger's commanding stage presence complemented by Knopf's array of electronic wizardry. Their tours, though limited, became legendary among those lucky enough to witness them, with the duo's chemistry translating seamlessly to the stage. The visual component of their live shows, featuring projections and lighting that matched their music's dreamy aesthetic, added another layer to their artistic vision.
Perhaps EL VY's greatest achievement is how it demonstrated the continued vitality of collaboration in an increasingly solitary musical landscape. In an era where bedroom producers and laptop composers dominate, EL VY proved that the magic of two creative minds bouncing ideas off each other remains irreplaceable. Their influence can be heard in the wave of electronic-tinged indie rock that followed, from artists like Panda Bear to more recent acts exploring similar sonic territories.
The project's current status remains tantalizingly ambiguous. Both Berninger and Knopf have returned to their primary musical endeavors – The National continues to tour and record, while Knopf pursues various production projects. Yet the door remains open for future EL VY material, with both artists speaking fondly of their collaboration in interviews. For now, "Return to the Moon" stands as a beautiful anomaly, a reminder that the best music often comes from the most unexpected places, when two artists dare to venture into uncharted territory together.
